Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a proposed law seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that survivors should face imprisonment rather than rehabilitation.
Akpabio made his position known on Tuesday during debate on a bill sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, which scaled second reading in the Senate.
The proposed legislation seeks to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and other support services for survivors.
Expressing his opposition, Akpabio maintained that attempting suicide remained a criminal offence under the existing legal framework.
“As far as we are concerned, we are saying that suicide is a crime for now. Therefore, if you attempt it, you better succeed. If you don’t succeed, we will send you to prison,” he said.
The Senate President later addressed Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, noting that the chamber had yet to conduct a public hearing on the proposed legislation.
“Senator Ningi, we are not yet at the public hearing. But you can see what is going on. He (Ekpenyong) is saying anybody who attempts it and does not die, we should rehabilitate the person,” Akpabio said.
He subsequently reiterated his position, declaring, “If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you.”
Akpabio also argued that the proposed reform required careful consideration because attempted suicide was addressed under both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code. He said state legislatures would need to participate in the public hearing to prevent conflicts in the legal framework.
However, Ekpenyong urged his colleagues to reconsider the criminalisation of attempted suicide, arguing that survivors needed medical and psychological assistance rather than punishment.
“Mr President, it is beyond that. I am only addressing the stigma associated with it. For now, we believe this 10th Senate can change and decriminalise it. It is a mental health issue,” the lawmaker said.
Presenting the bill, Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s existing laws contained conflicting approaches to suicide attempts, with mental health legislation recognising them as emergencies requiring intervention while criminal laws prescribe punishment.
“Our law presently speaks with two voices. The National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention. Yet Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code continue to expose the same person to criminal punishment,” he said.
The senator warned that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage people experiencing suicidal thoughts from seeking assistance or disclosing their struggles.
According to him, the fear of prosecution could also cause families to conceal suicide attempts, discourage health workers from reporting cases fully and encourage communities to treat mental health emergencies as sources of shame.
“I therefore urge this Senate to support the Second Reading of this Bill and affirm a clear national principle: Nigerians in psychological crisis should be met with care, protection and a credible path to recovery,” Ekpenyong said.
He maintained that decriminalisation alone would not address the problem without accessible mental health services, early intervention and sustained support for vulnerable people.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” he asked.
Beyond removing criminal penalties, the proposed legislation seeks to establish crisis helplines, improve access to treatment and rehabilitation, and provide specialised training for police officers, teachers and healthcare workers.
It also proposes public awareness campaigns and a national data system to strengthen suicide prevention and improve coordination among relevant institutions.
Under the proposed framework, survivors would receive appropriate medical assessments, referrals, treatment and follow-up care instead of facing imprisonment.
The bill’s passage for second reading indicates that the Senate has agreed to consider its proposals further; it does not constitute final approval or immediately change the existing law.
The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further consideration, including a public hearing.
